Trained volunteer adults who bring skills and knowledge to the experience will lead the trips.

Two trips are planned for this summer:

Youth can backpack through the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the Porcupine Mountains Backpacking Trip from July 7 -14. The trip costs $400. Lowell DeVries will lead the trip.

Youth can canoe through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northeast Minnesota on the Wilderness Canoe Trek from July 28 –Aug. 4. The trip costs $400. Katie Hammond and Dan Cohen will lead it.

Scholarships and stipends are available to help offset the costs. Register online at the Iowa 4-H Center website.

For more information on the wilderness trips, contact Abbie Parker at 515-795-3338.

About the Iowa 4-H Center

The Iowa 4-H Center was founded in 1949 by the Iowa 4-H Foundation. By 1952, the first campers stayed overnight in Elm Village.

The center consists of more than 1,100 acres of woodlands, meadows, wetlands and fields in the heart of the Des Moines River Valley. Outdoor education is an important component of the 4-H program. Faculty and staff of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H Youth Development create and lead programs year-round at the 4-H Center. The facilities are available year-round for use by individuals, families, groups or organizations.

The 4-H Center has 360 beds among five villages and is available for anyone to rent anytime. 4-H membership is not required to use the facilities. Staff employed by Iowa State University lead summer camps and seasonal programs in team challenge, outdoor camping, environmental education, shooting sports and recreation.